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Friends of the Earth statement on President Obama’s endorsement of Walmart’s unsustainable practices

Posted May. 8, 2014 / Posted by: Kate Colwell

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama will visit a Mountain View, Calif. Walmart on May 9 to discuss energy efficiency and commercial impacts on the environment. Walmart touts the Mountain View location as a prime example of its 100% renewable power goal, but green power comprises only 4% of Walmart’s total electricity usage. Many advocacy groups have criticized the company’s environmental rhetoric as empty and backed by insufficient action: Walmart has both underreported its greenhouse gas emissions and failed to meet its 2012 targets. Additionally, in 2013 it received a $110 million environmental criminal fine, second only to the BP oil spill in U.S. history, for its toxic dumping of pesticides.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica issued the following statement:

President Obama’s visit to the Mountain View, California Walmart is puzzling. It seems wildly inconsistent with the president’s push for greater economic equity and greater action on global warming. The president should take the opportunity on Friday to challenge Walmart to become a leader in sustainability and creating better, higher paying jobs. A company that recently won the award for 'Greenwasher of the Year’ should not be held up as an example of environmental success.